Heineken has brought in former Carlsberg Group global brand PR manager Joanna Dring as a PR and press manager.

Her role will form part of the external comms team, with responsibility for consumer, trade and business PR on brands including Foster’s, Strongbow and Bulmers.

She will report to Heineken UK head of external comms Nigel Pollard, who said she was joining at a "particularly busy and exciting period" for the business.

"Our significant increase in investment behind innovation and NPD has placed an even greater importance on our brand's PR programme, and Jo will help us deliver some ambitious plans over the coming months," he said.

Dring replaces David Jones, who recently retired from the business after 28 years in the role.

She joins from the Carlsberg Group where she was responsible for global strategic PR for a number of the company’s brands, based in the brewer’s headquarters in Copenhagen. Before this, she worked at Bedford-based Wells and Young’s Brewery.